Feeding apparatus for multi-width tapes



May 23, 1967 NYBERG ETAL 3,321,121

FEEDING APPARATUS FOR MULTIWIDTH TAPES 2 Shee ts-She1et 1 Filed Oct. 22, 1965 o r mm ATTORNEY FEEDING APPARATUS FOR MULTI-WIDTH TAPE Filed Oct. 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 T0 VACUUM F|G.3 SOURCE Y 4a 30 Q a T0 VACUUM F|G.4 SOURCE g United States Patent 3,321,121 FEEDING APPARATUSEFOR MULTI-WIDTH TAP S Marvin E. Nyberg and Delbert D. Towne, Rochester, Minn., assignors to International Business Machines Corporation, Armonlr, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,356 6 Claims. ((31. 226-95) This invention relates to apparatus for feeding tape and more particularly to apparatus for feeding multiwidth tapes relative to a reading station so that the tapes are held fiat within the reading station and with one side fully exposed without any obstruction to the reading apparatus.

In this invention, a vacuum system is utilized to hold the tape in that fiat condition in the reading station. A vacuum chamber divided into low and high vacuum sections covered with a slotted bed plate which is also channeled in the area associated withe the high vacuum section for receiving a perforated endless drive belt. The perforated belt is selectively driven to advance the tape through the reading station. The vacuum forces the tape flat against the drive belt and as the belt moves, the tape moves with it. The tape is read while it is stationary. When the tape is advanced, it is wound upon a spindle by tape take-up apparatus.

The high and low vacuum sections are provided to eliminate the need for an expensive high vacuum pump. A high vacuum force is required to hold the tape flat against the perforated drive belt when the tape is to be transported and is also required to eliminate tape slipping relative to the drive belt while the tape is being read. Thus, if a single vacuum chamber were used together with a perforated drive belt wide enough to accommodate the widest document, a very large vacuum pump or source would be required. Contrary to prior art approaches, in this invention the width of the drive belt is kept narrow and it is positioned to overlie the portion of the slotted bed plate communicating with a narrow or small high vacuum chamber. The high vacuum chamber communi cates with a low vacuum chamber through restrictive orifices. Tapes wider than the drive belt contact that portion of the slotted bedplate communicating with the low vacuum chamber. The function of the vacuum in the low vacuum chamber is to provide suflicient force to hold the wider documents flat without a high drag force. However, when wider tapes are being fed, the vacuum force in both chambers tends to increase considerably. This causes excessive loading on the drive belt. To overcome this problem, automatic controls are provided to maintain the high vacuum force between the drive belt and the wider tape and provide a lower vacuum force between the tape and the bed plate to keep the tape flat thereagainst but without undue drag. The arrangement of the narrow drive belt in the high vacuum force area and the automatic controls permits the use of a relatively small vacuum source.

Accordingly, it is a prime object of the invention to provide improved tape feeding apparatus for feeding multi-width tapes.

Another important object of the invention is to provide improved tape feeding apparatus utilizing vacuum for holding the tape in a flat condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for feeding multi-width tapes relative to a reading station so that the tapes are held flat within the reading station with one side fully exposed without any obstruction to the reading apparatus.

Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for feeding multi-width tapes which utilizes a relatively small vacuum force for holding the tape flat against a drive belt.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved vacuum system for multi-width tape feeding apparatus.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a vacuum system for multi-width tape feeding apparatus which has high and low vacuum chambers with control over the vacuum in these chambers according to the width of the tape being fed.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparatus from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic front elevational view showing the invention as incorporated in an optical reading machine for reading characters on a journal tape;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view with portions broken away showing the vacuum chambers, the bed plate and the perforated drive belt;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in section showing the vacuum system and the condition of the control element when a narrow tape is being fed; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in section showing the vacuum system and the condition of the control element when a wide tape is being fed.

With reference to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, the invention is shown by way of example as being incorporated into a machine for optically reading journal tapes from cash registers, adding machines and other like business machines. The journal tape 10 is mounted upon a supply spindle 11 and threaded through an aligner station 12, reading station and unto a take-up spindle 16 which is continuously driven by a suitable driving source such as motor 17. The torque placed upon spindle 16 is only sufiicient to take up the tape 10. Tape 10 can be held stationary in the reading station 15 against the force exerted upon the tape by the take-up spindle 16. Magnetic and eddy current clutches, not shown, are suitable for coupling the take-up spindle 16 to the motor 17.

The tape 10 is selectively driven relative to the reading station 15 by perforated drive belt 29 which rides in channel 22 of bed plate 21 as seen in FIG. 2. Bed plate 21 is suitably secured to the top of a rectangular vacuum chamber 25 which is divided into a high vacuum section 26 and a low vacuum section 27 by means of a longitudinally extending partition plate 28. The partition plate 28 is provided with a series of longitudinally spaced orifices 25? which regulate the flow of air from chamber 27 into chamber 26. The bed plate 21 is provided with a plurality of horizontally spaced longitudinal slots 23 and 24- which overlie the sections 26 and 27 respectively. Chamber 26 communicates with a vacuum source, not shown, by means of nipple 3t and chamber 27 is provided with an opening 31 which communicates with the atmosphere. Opening 31 is normally covered by a spring biased flapper valve 32. The opening 31 can be in the bottom of chamber 27 if desired; however, it should not be disposed to be covered by the tape 10.

The drive belt 20 is trained about idler rollers 36, 37 and 38 as shown in FIG. 1. Belt 20 is driven by drive 33 consisting of drive roller 35 suitably driven by continuously running motor 40 and roller 34 cooperating with drive roller 35 to drive the belt 20. Friction brake 39 is applied when belt 20 is to be held stationary and roller 34 is moved out of a cooperative driving relationship with drive roller 35. Brake 39 consists of a stationary member 45 which has a friction surface over which the belt 20 passes and a member 46 carried on one end of the pivotally mounted lever 47. Lever 47 carries roller 34 at its other end. When magnet M1 is energized, roller 34 is held into cooperative driving relationship with roller 35. Conversely, when magnet M2 is energized, roller 34 is moved out of driving relationship with roller 35 and member 46 presses the belt 20 against member 45 to hold belt 20 stationary. Control 41 which can be any suitable control mechanism provides control signals for operating drive 33 and brake 39 by means of magnets M1 and M2 respectively. Control 41, for example, could receive a signal from the optical scanner 50 when the same has completed reading a line of characters on the tape 10. In response to receiving this signal, control 41 provides signals for energizing magnet M1 and de-energizing magnet M2 whereby the drive 33 is engaged and brake 39 is released. After drive 33 has been engaged for a predetermined period of time to advance the belt 20 and thereby advance the tape 10, control 41 terminates operation of drive 33 and operates brake 39.

In FIG. 3 a narrow tape is being fed. The tape is forced against the drive belt 20 by the vacuum in chamber 26. The tape 10 thus seals off the perforations 19 in belt 20 and the vacuum in chamber 26 increases whereby a relatively high vacuum force is developed to hold the tape 10 fiat against the belt 20. On the other hand, the vacuum in chamber 27 is very low because slots 24 are exposed to the atmosphere. With the low vacuum in chamber 27, spring 48 is able to hold flapper valve 32. in a position to seal off the opening 31. Hence, by this arrangement tapes of a predetermined width are held against the perforated drive belt with a high vacuum force. This permits the drive belt 20 to feed the tape 10 and also prevents the tape 10 from slipping relative to belt 20 under the force exerted on the tape by take-up spindle 16.

When tapes wider than belt 20 and wide enough to cover any of the slots 24 are being fed, the vacuum in chamber 26 increases slightly to still provide a high force for holding the tape 10 against the drive belt 20. Further, the vacuum in chamber 27 increases considerably, particularly if all the slots 24 are covered by the tape 10. However, this higher vacuum force in chamber 2'7 opens the valve 32, and with the proper spring tension exerted, a sufiicient vacuum force is provided in chamber 27 to hold the tape 10 flat against the bed plate 21 but without excessive drag thereupon. The amount of vacuum force in chamber 27 is also controllable by the size of the orifices 29 in the partition plate 28. These orifices can be made adjustable to provide the desired vacuum force in chamber 27 for the variable width tapes.

From the foregoing, it is seen that this invention provides improved apparatus for feeding multi-width tapes in a fiat condition relative to a reading station. Further, it is seen that a small vacuum source can be used because the high vacuum chamber is restricted to the narrow drive belt area and excessive loading on this drive belt when wider tapes are being fed is prevented by means of the automatic control valve which opens a proper amount to reduce the vacuum force in the low vacuum chamber and thereby reduce the amount of drag on the bed plate.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Multi-width tape feeding apparatus comprising:

a first vacuum chamber provided with openings and connected to a high vacuum source;

a perforated drive belt disposed to overlie said openings in said first vacuum chamber and adapted to be in contact with tapes to be fed;

a second vacuum chamber connected to said first vacuum chamber to receive a reduced vacuum therefrom and having a plurality of openings with at least one 4 opening disposed out of contact with any width tape to be fed;

a control valve normally covering said one opening in said second vacuum chamber and operable to move away from and toward said one opening in response to the amount of vacuum force in said second chamber; and

means for driving said belt With the tapes to be fed forced thereagainst by the vacuum force in said first chamber and tapes wider than said belt are held flat by the vacuum force in said second chamber.

2. Multi-width tape feeding apparatus comprising:

a vacuum chamber having a narrow high vacuum section and a Wide low vacuum section with the high vacuum section connected to a high vacuum source and communicating with the low vacuum section, said low vacuum section having an opening therein in a position to be out of contact with any width tape to be fed, said vacuum chamber being provided with a series of openings in said high and low vacuum sections;

a perforated drive belt disposed to overlie said openings associated with said high vacuum section and adapted to be in contact with tapes to be fed;

a control valve normally covering said opening in said low vacuum section disposed to be out of contact with the tape to be fed and operable to move away from and toward said opening in response to the amount of vacuum force in said low vacuum section; and

means for driving said belt with tapes to be fed forced thereagainst by the vacuum in said high vacuum section and tapes wider than said belt are held fiat by the vacuum force in said low vacuum section.

3. Tape feeding apparatus comprising:

a vacuum chamber divided into high and low vacuum sections with the same communicating with each other, said high vacuum section being connected to' a high vacuum source and said low vacuum section having an opening communicating to the atmosphere;

a bed plate covering said vacuum chamber and having a plurality of openings associated with said high and low vacuum sections;

a perforated drive belt disposed to overlie said openings in said bed plate associated with said high vacuum section;

a control valve normally covering said opening in said low vacuum section and operable to uncover said opening different amounts according to the amount of vacuum force in said second chamber; and

means for driving said belt with the tapes to be fed forced thereagainst by the vacuum force in said high vacuum section and tapes Wider than said belt are held flat by the vacuum force in said low vacuum section.

4. The tape feeding apparatus of claim 3 wherein said bed plate is provided with the recess to receive said perforated drive belt.

5. Tape feeding apparatus comprising:

a vacuum chamber provided with a partition having a series of longitudinally spaced orifices dividing said chamber into first and second sections, a top plate provided with a series of openings overlying both said first and second sections, said first section being connected to a vacuum source;

a perforated drive belt disposed to overlie said openings in said top plate disposed above said first section;

means for controlling the vacuum force in said second section according to the amount of vacuum force in said second section; and

means for driving said belt with the tapes to be fed Lforced thereagainst by the vacuum force in said first section and tapes wider than said belt are held flat by the vacuum force in said second section.

6. Multi-width tape feeding apparatus comprising a first vacuum chamber having a high vacuum force therein and a plurality of holes;

a perforated drive belt disposed to overlie said holes in said first vacuum chamber and come into contact with tapes to be fed;

a second vacuum chamber disposed adjacent to said first vacuum chamber whereby tapes wider than said drive belt come into contact with said second vacuum chamber, said second vacuum chamber having a plurality of holes adapted to be covered by said wider tapes and provided with a normally low vacuum force which increases as tapes cover said holes;

means for decreasing the vacuum force in said second vacuum chamber a predetermined amount when the vacuum force therein increases due to tapes covering said openings; and

means for driving said belt with the tapes to be fed forced thereagainst by the vacuum force in said first chamber and tapes wider than said belt are held flat by the vacuum force in said second chamber.

References UNITED 15 M. HENSON WOOD,

Cited by the Examiner STATES PATENTS Anander 22-695 Lewin 27l-74 X Perry 27174 X Young 27174 X Baumeister 226-95 Stewart 22695 IR., Primary Examiner.

R. A. SCHACHER, Assistant Examiner. 

5. TAPE FEEDING APPARATUS COMPRISING: A VACUUM CHAMBER PROVIDED WITH A PARTITION HAVING A SERIES OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED ORIFICES DIVIDING SAID CHAMBER INTO FIRST AND SECOND SECTIONS, A TOP PLATE PROVIDED WITH A SERIES OF OPENINGS OVERLYING BOTH SAID FIRST AND SECOND SECTIONS, SAID FIRST SECTION BEING CONNECTED TO A VACUUM SOURCE; A PERFORATED DRIVE BELT DISPOSED TO OVERLIE SAID OPENINGS IN SAID TOP PLATE DISPOSED ABOVE SAID FIRST SECTION; MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE VACUUM FORCE IN SAID SECOND SECTION ACCORDING TO THE AMOUNT OF VACUUM FORCE IN SAID SECOND SECTION; AND MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID BELT WITH THE TAPES TO BE FED FORCED THEREAGAINST BY THE VACUUM FORCE IN SAID FIRST SECTION AND TAPES WIDER THAN SAID BELT ARE HELD FLAT BY THE VACUUM FORCE IN SAID SECOND SECTION. 